Executive senior vice president Dan Straub says Straub Brewery Inc., of St. Marys, spent about $150,000 buying 25,000 returnable bottles "four or five years ago, and none of them are coming back." Customers pay a $1.50 deposit on a case of 24 returnable bottles.

The company sells its Straub and Straub Light in 16-ounce returnable bottles. It also sells those beers, and others, in 12-ounce nonreturnable bottles and cans, and kegs.